Vital Energi have won the £17m contract to deliver the primary energy infrastructure package for the Greystar and Henderson Park, Nine Elms Park plots B and D development which will be situated on the former Royal Mail centre. The 14-acre development, which lays between Battersea & Vauxhall, south of the
Tridify announced today it has been awarded an Epic MegaGrant to develop a new BIM streaming service, enabling AEC professionals to view interactive BIM models rendered with Unreal Engine streamed to any mobile device. Designed to improve collaboration at all stages of the construction process, the service will make existing
A NEW £9 million primary school built on the former RAF Locking base and surrounding land in North Somerset has welcomed its first cohort of pupils – after construction completed in time for the 2020/21 academic year, despite setbacks caused by COVID-19. The Parklands Educate Together Primary School, in Weston-super-Mare,
Various industries around the globe continue to be affected by the ongoing pandemic. This is why companies are doing their best to survive or at least manage the coronavirus’ impact on their business operation. At this point, organizations need to adapt to change. One of the ways is to transform
Raised in the rural south west of Scotland, I remember only too well wet playtimes at school, sitting bored at my desk and staring out of the window, or hanging around the corridors. Thankfully, there is a shift happening and indoor breaks are becoming a thing of the past and
The electricity market is evolving to allow a higher integration of variable energy sources and a new class of devices is approaching the market to satisfy this necessity. In the new report released by IDTechEx: “Potential Stationary Energy Storage Device to Monitor”, the emerging class of energy storage devices,
Green Homes Grant opens for business today to help homeowners upgrade their homes and save up to £600 a year on their energy bills Tenants also benefit from the new measures, with consultation launched on upgrading private rental properties by 2028 as well as new scheme for social housing New
It has been a busy couple of years here at The Wigley Group. With two main strands to our business, a commercial landlord with an extensive property portfolio across the Midlands and main contractor delivering construction projects across the region, our move to Stockton House in 2019 has enabled us
Age-old assumptions: 44% of Brits believe ‘cowboy builders’ are commonplace Top misconceptions: Too expensive (28%), unreliable (23%) and rip-off merchants (19%) – yet85% admit their experiences of tradespeople have been positive #RespectYourTrades: Checkatrade campaign seeks to drive reappraisal of our nation’s tradespeople and has produced a video to help address
The Cargo Building in Liverpool, part of the residential portfolio managed by Federated Hermes, has become the world’s first residential asset to achieve the new BREEAM In-Use (BIU) Residential certification. Located just a few minutes’ walk from Albert Dock and Liverpool ONE, The Cargo Building comprises 324 apartments, making it
Vital Energi have won the £17m contract to deliver the primary energy infrastructure package for the Greystar and Henderson Park, Nine Elms Park plots B and D development which will be situated on the former Royal Mail centre. The 14-acre development, which lays between Battersea & Vauxhall, south of the River Thames, will create a total of 894 rental homes in plots B and D with the addition of high spec amenity areas and retail units at ground floor. Each block will be served via their own district heating, chilled and water services plant and the development will be future proofed to enable easy connection to a wider district heating network in the future. Rob Callaghan, Regional director for Vital Energi commented, “Not only are Greystar and Henderson Park, with their delivery partner Telford Homes, creating much-needed, high quality rental housing in London, they are doing it with sustainability at its heart. The overall Nine Elms Park development will deliver a vibrant community with a school, retail units and community facilities and at full build out will deliver almost 2,000 new homes where they are needed. “This will be a fantastic addition to the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Regeneration Area (known as VNEB) and London in general and we look forward to beginning work on this exciting new development.”
Tridify announced today it has been awarded an Epic MegaGrant to develop a new BIM streaming service, enabling AEC professionals to view interactive BIM models rendered with Unreal Engine streamed to any mobile device. Designed to improve collaboration at all stages of the construction process, the service will make existing workflows more efficient and increase the quality of the viewing experience, when sharing large BIMs remotely. Breaking down existing barriers to sharing large BIMs, the service works with any size of model on any device. Previously, due to the size of data and restrictions of mobile devices, viewing large models remotely made collaboration difficult. Users can now benefit from uninterrupted workflows, seamlessly interacting with complex models from any location. Tridify’s new service automatically publishes any IFC file to Unreal Engine and streams it to users via a URL. As the model is streamed directly to a device, there is no need to download any additional applications. The service will be available during October via a range of different priced packages and is an addition to Tridify’s existing set of BIM publishing tools. “Being able to view any type of BIM model on any device, rendered in the industry’s highest quality game engine Unreal, is a major milestone in the streamlining of AEC workflows,” said Alexander Le Bell, Tridify CEO. “The service solves the problem of how to share complete models of large scale developments such as airports, hospitals or shopping malls with everyone, anywhere, without any technical or financial barriers. Tridify is delighted to receive the MegaGrant from Epic Games to create the new service and transform the working practices of architects, engineers and BIM managers.” “The new Tridify service opens up amazing opportunities for the AEC community to benefit from the power of Unreal Engine visualisations, as they work more remotely with increasingly complex BIMs,” commented David Weir-McCall, Business Development, Unreal Engine Enterprise, Epic Games. “Making Unreal Engine more accessible in this way will allow the AEC ecosystem to understand projects more easily and open communication between designer and client.” Users can select to combine different models, such as architecture, HVAC, plumbing or electricity, or simply choose to stream a complete BIM model. Future tools will include mark-up, annotations, measuring and cutting planes. For more information and video demo please visit: https://go.tridify.com/bim-streaming-signup
A NEW £9 million primary school built on the former RAF Locking base and surrounding land in North Somerset has welcomed its first cohort of pupils – after construction completed in time for the 2020/21 academic year, despite setbacks caused by COVID-19. The Parklands Educate Together Primary School, in Weston-super-Mare, has been designed and built to meet the needs of staff, pupils and the local community – delivering 14 modern classrooms, a multi-use games area, main hall, hard and soft informal play areas, and a habitat area. Initially, the school will provide 420 primary school places and a self-contained pre-school, with capacity to expand to 630 places when required. Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Perfect Circle was appointed by North Somerset Council via Scape Group’s National Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework to provide cost management and quantity surveying (QS) services for the project. Victoria Brambini, managing director of Perfect Circle, said: “We are delighted to have supported with the opening of the new Parklands Educate Together Primary School, which has created 420 much-needed school places for pupils in the local community. “Throughout the project, we worked collaboratively with contractor Willmott Dixon, which was appointed via Scape’s National Construction framework, to overcome a number of challenges, namely the coronavirus pandemic. This effective collaboration across two of Scape’s frameworks ensured that a spacious, light and innovative primary school was delivered in time for the start of the new academic year.” A temporary building to house pupils from the new, nearby housing development originally opened just around the corner from the new site in September 2018. Another provisional building was added a year later to expand the school to four classrooms. The permanent site welcomed pupils to the finished building on Monday, 7 September 2020. William Phillips, regional lead for the South West at Perfect Circle, said: “During the height of coronavirus in the UK when numerous restrictions were in place, we were uncertain whether the school was going to be ready in time for the upcoming academic year. “However, as the school had been operating out of temporary buildings for the past two years, the entire team was committed to ensuring that, despite construction taking place in the middle of a pandemic, the building would be ready to welcome pupils in September. “Credit has to go to Willmott Dixon and its supply chain for their efforts adapting to the new site operating procedures under COVID-19 restrictions, as well as the council’s internal project management team for ensuring the scheme maintained momentum. “Due to the challenging circumstances, we spent more time than usual on the scheme, getting costs agreed between the client and contractor in order to keep things moving and get the project finished on time. And, despite the COVID-19 restrictions that were implemented, the school was able to open its doors to pupils this week, which was a huge success for everyone involved, and fantastic news for the school and local community.” Scape’s BECS framework offers direct access to the most extensive property, construction and infrastructure consultancy services available to the public sector. The fully OJEU-compliant procurement route brings together the strongest collaborative team with value for money, while contributing substantially to local social value. Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “The new Parklands Educate Together primary school will significantly enhance the lives of young children and their families across the Locking Parklands community. This state-of-the-art project demonstrates the ability of the public sector to overcome the obstacles presented by Covid-19 and its ongoing commitment to supporting the economic recovery. “The delivery team at North Somerset Council, Perfect Circle and Willmott Dixon deserve an immense amount of credit for adapting to the new Covid-19 operating procedures. We’re proud that our frameworks and expert partners have helped to provide the school with an innovative learning environment for the start of the academic year.” For more information on Perfect Circle, please visit www.perfectcircle.co.uk.
Various industries around the globe continue to be affected by the ongoing pandemic. This is why companies are doing their best to survive or at least manage the coronavirus’ impact on their business operation. At this point, organizations need to adapt to change. One of the ways is to transform the suite of goods and services they offer to their customers. By adopting technology during these difficult times, many businesses have seen a growth in online sales for their products. However, to ensure quality for the different industries they serve, industrial companies continue to utilize both traditional and modern processes. Industrial Coatings And Sealants For Various Industries For many decades, diverse industries have utilized protective coatings and sealants. Despite the changing requirements and standards, there will always be a use for these industrial products. Here are some of the numerous industries that benefit from high-quality industrial sealants and coatings: Aerospace: Protect the surfaces of aerospace vessels from wear and degradation. Architecture: Fixtures and windows get decorative protection from reflective coatings and paint. Automobile: Cars’ body panels are applied with sealant and coatings to protect against wear and exposure. Construction: Coatings and sealants protect the materials of various structures from improving their durability. Engineering: To enhance durability and performance, mechanical and electronic parts may be coated with protective material. Furniture: Sealants are used to make furniture more stable while coatings add a layer of protection to the surfaces. Industrial: Most coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers are used for industrial and manufacturing operations Marine: In addition to blocking water from seeping inside the ship, industrial sealants prevent leaks and rust on the surfaces of water vessels. Printing: Coatings and sealants are used in the printing industry as well as in the paints and coatings industry Textile: Coatings are utilized to produce patterned fabrics and clothing Protective coatings and sealants fall under the category of CASE materials (coatings, adhesives, sealants, and elastomers). These materials aim to improve the appearance, durability, performance, and resistance of various products, tools, and equipment. Top 3 Uses Of Protective Coatings and Sealants Businesses and organizations that utilize protective coatings and sealants know that these materials are essential in creating top-quality, industry-standard products. These are the top 3 ways industries use coating and sealants: Enhance Performance And Durability One of the most important purposes of coatings and sealants is to improve the material’s performance. A common use for industrial protective coatings is in the manufacturing industry. Manufacturers that utilize metals overcome the disadvantage of working with the material by using protective coatings to prevent rust. It also protects against harsh conditions, corrosion, and impact. The lifespan of products, tools, and machinery pieces is also extended with industrial protective coatings and sealants. The choice of protective coating ultimately depends on the type of surface it’s being applied to. On the other hand, industrial protective sealants are used to effectively bind materials because of their gluey properties. Adhesives typically have greater strength and flexibility than sealants. So, the primary application purpose for both may differ. 2. Add Waterproof Protection In most construction-related applications, sealants’ function is to block sound, heat, or dust from passing through surfaces. Industrial protective sealants also work by preventing fluids and moisture from seeping through various surfaces’ joints or openings. Industrial coatings, on the other hand, are used to protect or enhance the substrate. Sometimes, these chemicals or substances are used as a decorative and protective coating for substrates–the underlying layer where the coating or sealant is applied. Examples of industrial protective coating are those applied to wooden decks and machine parts. Coatings not only protect the surface of various substrates, but it can also change the product’s surface properties. 3. Boost Aesthetic Appeal Aside from the functional purposes of industrial protective coatings, these materials are also used to enhance the products’ aesthetic appeal. For example, lacquers and paints are coatings that enhance the physical appearance of various substrates, like wood, paper, metals, foil, and film. Industrial sealants and coatings protect and improve the performance of materials, making the end-product more appealing, which is very important. Manufacturers should aim to produce durable but aesthetically appealing items. This is where protective coatings and sealants can help. Takeaway No matter how technology or time may change industries’ requirements or processes, protective sealants and coatings continue to be essential materials for the manufacturing or finishing of products. Since coatings and sealants come in many forms, choosing the best one will depend on the application’s purpose and the composition of the substrate.
Raised in the rural south west of Scotland, I remember only too well wet playtimes at school, sitting bored at my desk and staring out of the window, or hanging around the corridors. Thankfully, there is a shift happening and indoor breaks are becoming a thing of the past and even if it is raining, children are being encouraged to go outside. Educationalists are being influenced by the Scandinavian countries and their approach to making the most of outdoor spaces surrounding nurseries and schools. For them, it isn’t just about play and break times. It is about creating learning and social environments that spark imagination and creativity, encouraging them to connect with nature. The events of 2020 have surely kick started an even greater need for us all to get outside and appreciate the physical and mental health benefits that the natural world provides. As a landscape architect at BDP’s Glasgow studio, I am very fortunate to work as part of an expert team who take a ‘whole estate’ approach to design and where the starting point is always to consider the history and the context of the area to provide a solution that is of its place. Having worked on numerous early years and education projects, I have had the pleasure of working with clients who recognise the valuable asset they have in their external areas and are aspirational in their approach to teaching – taking learning beyond the school building. They recognise how well-designed external spaces can inspire both children and teachers offering benefits such as improved health, motor skills development, psychological wellbeing and positive behaviour. They have also embraced the need for risk in the external environment which helps to build resilient and fearless wee folk. My role is to educate clients on how a relatively small proportion of the budget can help to create so much more than just tar and grass areas. I encourage clients to look at completed projects to see what they could achieve by working with a landscape architect. Small changes can really enhance the outdoor experience for children and help to provide a variety of stimulating spaces that can accommodate play and learning, for all types of young learners, and in all weathers too. From the consultations we have carried out with children during the early stages of the design process, they tell us they want to be outside, even when it is wet. In fact, their excitement and the sense of adventure at being able to create dens and shelters during these exercises really shines through. And this is why I love my job – I get to design spaces where young people can thrive. But the responsibility of a landscape architect extends beyond creating spaces for today’s group of young learners, it is about sustainable design that will meet the needs of future generations. Working in a time dimension, the spaces I create today will continue to evolve. Trees planted to create an attractive setting for a building will not only improve the microclimate and provide shelter but will also become a habitat for wildlife ,. Ongoing maintenance of school estates is a key consideration for local authorities, from both cost and environmental perspectives. If costs and budget are proving to be challenging, I can also demonstrate to them how the landscape can be added to over the years to evolve and change with their needs. There’s nothing I love more than revisiting a project years on to see just how it has developed and matured but most importantly to see how it is being used and loved by the children. I have a favourite quote from Sir David Attenborough who said, “No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced”. As a child, I was lucky to have parents whose love of the outdoors helped to shape me. It is now my turn to encourage future generations to experience this so that they too can learn to love, care for and protect their landscapes. Kath MacTaggart is a Landscape Architect at BDP Glasgow Studio
The electricity market is evolving to allow a higher integration of variable energy sources and a new class of devices is approaching the market to satisfy this necessity. In the new report released by IDTechEx: “Potential Stationary Energy Storage Device to Monitor”, the emerging class of energy storage devices, characterized by long storage duration and MW size power output, are investigated. While existing energy storage devices are already populating the market, from Li-ion batteries to pumped-hydro energy storage, this new class of storage technologies will aim to complete the puzzle of the energy storage market. Pushed from the electrification of the automotive sector, Li-ion batteries have been deeply investigated in the last decades and are currently the standard choice for short and medium-duration storage. On the other end of the storage market, pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) are the main energy storage systems supporting the grid. These systems have a power capacity of GW scale (1000s of MW), and long storage time, from days upwards. In between these two storage systems, a new group of storage devices is now approaching the market, with an intermediate power range, between MW to GW scale and an energy storage capacity that is almost indefinite. Power and storage capacity comparison of different technologies. Source: IDTechEx Research report “Potential Stationary Energy Storage Device to Monitor” The devices investigated by IDTechEx include: Gravitational Energy Storage (GES): Piston-Based GES (PB-GES) Underground PHES (U-PHES) UnderWater GES (UW-GES) Advanced Rail Energy Storage (ARES) Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) The market addressed by these systems aims to improve the quality, and resiliency of the electricity grid, and distribution networks. Therefore, it is aiming to address the Front-the-Meter (FTM) section of the electricity grid. These devices, as investigated in IDTechEx’s new report “Potential Stationary Energy Storage Device to Monitor”, support the electricity grid providing peak-shaving service, grid deferral, and frequency regulation, among other possible services. Moreover, because some of these technologies involved the use of several turbines, some of these devices can address more than one service at the time, therefore increasing the value stacking of these technologies. Although they come with high capital costs, and are in their initial demonstration phase, these devices are a promising solution to stabilize the electricity grid and reach a high level of integration of variable renewable energy sources. For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/PotentialSES or for the full portfolio of Energy Storage research available from IDTechEx please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Research/ES. IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Consultancy and Event products, helping you profit from emerging technologies. For more information on IDTechEx Research and Consultancy, contact research@IDTechEx.com or visit www.IDTechEx.com.
Green Homes Grant opens for business today to help homeowners upgrade their homes and save up to £600 a year on their energy bills Tenants also benefit from the new measures, with consultation launched on upgrading private rental properties by 2028 as well as new scheme for social housing New work will be created for accredited tradespeople in green construction, supporting 100,000 jobs across the UK £3 billion plan to upgrade buildings an essential part of building back greener from coronavirus and reaching net zero emissions by 2050 Homes, schools and hospitals across England are set to be greener and cheaper to run thanks to a £3 billion plan to upgrade the nation’s buildings – the biggest in a generation. Starting today, homeowners can sign up for big savings on upgrades to their homes under the government’s £2 billion Green Homes Grant, with an additional £1 billion announced to improve the energy efficiency of publicly owned buildings. The Green Homes Grant scheme will see the Government fund up to two-thirds of the cost of home improvements up to £10,000, to make over 600,000 homes more energy efficient. Those homeowners with low-incomes, including those on certain benefits, are eligible for a grant covering up to 100 per cent of the cost of works up to £10,000. Grants will be offered to cover green home improvements ranging from insulation of walls, floors and roofs, to the installation of double or triple glazing when replacing single glazing, and low-carbon heating like heat pumps or solar thermal – measures that could help households save up to £600 a year on their energy bills. It will cut people’s energy bills and carbon emissions, whilst also supporting over 100,000 jobs in green construction for local plumbers, builders and tradespeople across the UK. The launch of the Green Homes Grant forms part of a wider plan to upgrade the nation’s buildings expected to support an additional 120,000 jobs, which also includes: £1 billion to boost the energy efficiency of public buildings, including schools and hospitals through a Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund New measures to ensure nearly 3 million privately rented homes are upgraded to modern energy efficiency standards by 2028 £50 million to improve the energy efficiency of social housing Business and Energy Secretary Alok Sharma said: “Our plan to upgrade the nation’s buildings and help build back better is good news for jobs, the environment and people’s back pockets, as we reduce emissions and help cut energy bills. “I urge everyone to visit the Green Home Grants website to see how they can make the most of this fantastic scheme.” Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “We promised to support jobs and protect the environment – and the Green Homes Grant delivers on this. We’re giving homeowners, landlords and local authorities the funding they need to hire local tradespeople and make our homes more energy efficient. By supporting the green van men and women, we’ll save money, save jobs and save the planet.” £500 million of the of the Green Homes Grant scheme has been assigned for local authorities to provide green home improvements for households with an income of under £30,000. Tenants will also benefit from the Government’s plan to boost energy efficiency thanks to proposals for the private rental sector, published today. The improvements will be achieved by raising the energy performance standard of privately-rented properties, with landlords having to ensure homes meet Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Band C requirements. These could save nearly 3 million homes an average of £220 a year on their annual heating bills and lift up to 900,000 low income households out of fuel poverty. The plans could also support 90,000 jobs in the energy sector annually. Costs will be capped at £10,000 and landlords can take advantage of the Green Homes Grant to fund the necessary improvements. The private rental sector measures are being phased in to limit the disruption to both landlords and tenants, with improvements having to be implemented for new tenancies from 1 April 2025 and for all tenancies by 1 April 2028. In a further boost, the Government is making £50 million available for social housing through a demonstrator project for the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF). This UK-wide demonstrator scheme will see grants supplied to upgrade the energy efficiency of over 2000 of the worst-performing social homes. It is estimated that those living in upgraded properties will save between £300 and £500 on their energy bills each year. As well as helping meet the country’s net zero emissions target, the SHDF Demonstrator will support up to 3200 jobs in the green energy sector. The Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will help public sector organisations in England, including central government departments and their agencies, local authorities, schools and NHS Trusts, to install energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions. Installations under the PSDS are expected to support up to 30,000 low-carbon jobs. Today’s energy efficiency plan forms part of the Government’s wider efforts to ensure the UK meets its legally binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and build back greener from coronavirus. Over the past decade, the UK has cut carbon emissions by more than any similar developed country. In 2019, UK emissions were 42% lower than in 1990, while our economy over the same period grew by 72%.
It has been a busy couple of years here at The Wigley Group. With two main strands to our business, a commercial landlord with an extensive property portfolio across the Midlands and main contractor delivering construction projects across the region, our move to Stockton House in 2019 has enabled us to accommodate our growing workforce. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Stockton Village for their patience throughout our refurbishment works. We have well and truly settled into our new headquarters and it has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to restore the historic Stockton House to its former glory. On a personal note, our relocation has marked a return to our roots as a business, with the company initially established in 1964, around 10 miles away in Barby. Our Chairman and Managing Director have both lived locally for many years and it is fantastic to be able to call Stockton our home as a business. We are disappointed that COVID-19 has put a halt to our plans to open our office and gardens to the local community this summer but we hope to welcome you to see the transformation in the near future . It has always been our intention to be of benefit to the local community in which we are based, providing assistance when required and employment opportunities to local people. We are proud to say that over 70% of our staff live within a 10-mile radius of Stockton House, with over 32% from Stockton, Southam, Long Itchington or Birdingbury. To date we have contributed over £11,000 of financial support and services to local community causes and we are in the process of establishing a Wigley Community Initiative to benefit organisations in the Stockton area. We are looking forward to sharing the details of this with you in due course. Thanks to continued growth we now find ourselves already close to outgrowing the space we have and are looking to complete the final piece of the puzzle of Stockton House’s transformation. Our vision is to build a two-storey extension on the Napton Road side of the site, providing office space upstairs and conference space on the lower level. This will enable us to accommodate our existing workforce and provide a venue for business meetings as well as community events. We would like to share with you these initial artists impressions of the proposed extension and we are excited to share full details of the proposed plans with you all in the near future. We have already engaged with your parish council on the plans but if you have any initial questions or queries we would be happy to answer them, please just email info@thewigleygroup.com. Courtyard view Garden view View from Napton Road 1 View from Napton Road 2
Age-old assumptions: 44% of Brits believe ‘cowboy builders’ are commonplace Top misconceptions: Too expensive (28%), unreliable (23%) and rip-off merchants (19%) – yet85% admit their experiences of tradespeople have been positive #RespectYourTrades: Checkatrade campaign seeks to drive reappraisal of our nation’s tradespeople and has produced a video to help address the misconceptions New research from Checkatrade reveals that almost two-thirds (63%) of Brits are clinging onto damaging misconceptions about the nation’s trades. Overall, 44% confess to believing that ‘cowboys’ are commonplace while more than one in ten (14%) openly admit they’ve stereotyped tradespeople based purely on profession. The top negative misconceptions about trades are that they’re too expensive (28%), unreliable (23%) and that they’re rip-off merchants (19%) while one in ten (11%) used the term ‘unskilled’ to describe them, alongside uneducated (6%).* Popular tradespeople-related Google searches also support these findings**. However, there seems to be a stark gap between perceptions and the reality of experience. More than a quarter (29%) of Brits have called upon tradespeople over the last six months and 85% admitted that they had a positive experience – with 13% even claiming their expectations had been exceeded. Checkatrade’s own data also shows that only 2% of trades have a workmanship score of less than 9/10 – the same can be said for reliability, timekeeping and tidiness. As a result, Checkatrade has launched a campaign which asks the nation to readdress their negative stereotypes, and reappraise the contribution of tradespeople in our communities. Entitled #RespectYourTrades, the campaign video shares the honest reactions of its vetted and recommended members to the research findings as well as common ‘mean tweets’ about tradespeople. It’s clear from their responses that prejudice is rife and having an unfair and damaging effect on the industry. Julian Perryman and Chris Frediani, Britain’s best known builder and plasterer are both backing the Checkatrade campaign: “Like all walks of life, there’s no getting around the fact that there are a few bad apples out there, but that’s why it’s so important to stick to reputable, vetted tradespeople. Our industry has been plagued by prejudices for decades but the trades we come across everyday are incredibly hard-working, skilled and committed to doing a good job. With so many currently in people’s homes doing great repair and renovation work, now feels like a good time to ask people to reassess their value.” Mike Fairman, CEO of Checkatrade, commented, “Our members’ livelihoods depend on their great reputations. Over the last few months, they’ve been building new hospitals, keeping communities connected, offering keyworker discounts and are now helping people up and down the country with their home improvements and repairs, so it’s sad to hear so many are still struggling to shake off stereotypes. “Each and every one of our members has been through 12 background checks and have proudly signed up to uphold our standards of honesty, transparency and professionalism. We hope that our campaign prompts people to have confidence in the expertise good tradespeople offer, to better understand the variable nature of their work, to recognise the pride our members take in making spaces safe, secure and smile-inducing and to give them the respect that they deserve.” To view Checkatrade’s #RespectYourTrades campaign video and find out more about the vital work tradespeople have been doing, visit: –
The Cargo Building in Liverpool, part of the residential portfolio managed by Federated Hermes, has become the world’s first residential asset to achieve the new BREEAM In-Use (BIU) Residential certification. Located just a few minutes’ walk from Albert Dock and Liverpool ONE, The Cargo Building comprises 324 apartments, making it Liverpool’s first Build to Rent (BtR) scheme and largest Private Rented Sector (PRS) development. The Cargo Building was awarded the accolade after undergoing a rigorous evaluation process to benchmark and assess its sustainability performance across a selection of key areas, including energy efficiency, health and wellbeing, and resilience. The project recorded an impressive overall Part 1 rating of 70.8%, scoring particularly well in the categories of resilience, transport and energy. Working with environmental consultants GWP Project Services, who were appointed BRE assessors and auditors for the project, enabled Federated Hermes to identify improvement opportunities in line with assessment criteria. Securing BREEAM In-Use Residential certification demonstrates the commitment Federated Hermes has already shown across its non-domestic portfolio, with BIU assessments already undertaken across more than 30 assets, including Centre:MK and One City Place, a mixed-use development in Chester that achieved a rating of ‘excellent’. BIU Version 6, released in May 2020, is the latest version of the world-leading environmental methodology for assets in-use, which is used to assess buildings of all types in over 30 countries. As the go-to non-domestic standard for real estate owners, managers and investors, Version 6 brings the release of a brand-new version specifically created to recognise and drive high standards of sustainability and operational performance in residential buildings. “As the Cargo Building becomes the first residential asset to receive BIU certification, our next step will be to achieve BIU-certified status across our entire residential portfolio. As responsible investors, we adopt a long-term approach to investment and believe that assets which can demonstrate active responsible management, supported by the credentials of a world recognised benchmark perform more strongly over time than others in the same asset class. Rather than looking at investment decisions in purely financial terms, we take a holistic view of how our portfolio impacts on our wider ecosystem, always looking at ways to deliver strong returns while making a positive contribution to society as a whole.” -Sharon Brown, Director – Real Estate Risk & RPM Implementation at Federated Hermes, International “Right from our first discussion around BREEAM In-Use Residential, Federated Hermes has been determined to move forward and showcase the very high performance of the Cargo asset. The ‘Excellent’ outcome is testament to the dedication and commitment of the whole team involved. The high score in the Resilience category shows that the asset is well-prepared and future-ready, giving assurance to the tenants regarding the asset’s sustainability credentials.”– James Fisher, Strategic Real Estate Lead at BRE Global Limited, the awarding body and organisation that established and oversees the scheme “Federated Hermes is a leader in sustainability and has continually demonstrated its commitment to achieving exceptional performance across its portfolio through its involvement with BREEAM’s sustainability assessment framework. The certification process has allowed Federated Hermes to deliver tangible improvements, in turn helping to support its wider sustainability objectives and commitment to net-zero targets.” -Barry Rankin, Director of GWP Project Services For more information on The Cargo Building, please visit: http://www.cargobuilding.co.uk